Salman Agha, Hesson, Babar in firing line as experts warn Naqvi: 'Pakistan cricket needs surgery' after World Cup exit

For the fourth consecutive ICC event, Pakistan failed to reach the semifinals since finishing runners-up at the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Updated on: Mar 1, 2026, 14:52:11 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign ended on Saturday with yet another exit before the semifinals of an ICC tournament, triggering a fierce backlash from former players and experts. Captain Salman Agha, head coach Mike Hesson and senior batter Babar Azam found themselves in the firing line as critics dissected tactical blunders, questionable selections and a lack of clarity in leadership. Even Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi was dragged into the storm, with calls for structural “surgery” growing louder.

Pakistan's captain Salman Agha (L) speaks with head coach Mike Hesson during a training session (AFP)

For the fourth consecutive ICC event, Pakistan failed to reach the semifinals since finishing runners-up at the 2022 T20 World Cup. The slide includes group-stage eliminations at the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez targeted Agha and Hesson following what he described as a “painful debacle”. Although Pakistan won their final Super 8 match, the victory margin was insufficient to improve their net run rate enough to overtake New Zealand for the second semifinal spot from Group 2.

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Hafeez said the tournament had exposed not just Agha’s captaincy but the broader direction of Pakistan cricket — from team management to selection policy and tactical planning.

“I will sum it up as the end of a painful debacle. Right from the start, the way the Pakistan team was playing was incomprehensible to any cricket critic. But it kept going,” Hafeez said on the Game On Hai show.

“I believe this World Cup has totally exposed the Pakistan think tank’s planning. Whatever policy they created and their decision-making process has been laid bare. The captaincy has been badly exposed. If you persist with someone who doesn’t even deserve a place in the team, you might see temporary benefits, but you will get stuck in the long run. And if you look at the overall skill level of the players, everything has been exposed — where do we stand in modern-day cricket? Where does our batting stand? Where do our bowlers stand?”

Former cricketer Basit Ali, meanwhile, questioned Babar’s selection in the T20I squad and Hesson’s handling of the senior batter.

“He openly said Babar lacks intent in the powerplay and his strike rate is low. If he’s not suitable after 10 slow overs, then why was he selected? Who picked him? And who is going to hold the head coach accountable?” Basit asked.

He ended with a direct appeal to Naqvi.

“Chairman, surgery is needed. Bring in good people. Keep good advisors. Your cricket will not improve in a year. Bring in people with strong service records who understand the game and can rebuild it step by step, starting from the junior level.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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